Unity for Gallaudet

On 20 September 2006, the Gallaudet Student Congress passed a resolution stating that they did not recognize Jane Fernandes as the 9th president of Gallaudet University.

Ryan Commerson, LaToya Plummer, Leah Katz-Hernandez, and Delia Lozano-Martinez were Faculty, Students, Staff, and Alumni (FSSA) spokespersons. Chris Corrigan was described as the "Mayor of Tent City" and largely responsible for rallies. In his role as Student Body Government president, Noah Beckman, and Tara Holcomb, as Student Body Government's Director of Ethics and Conduct, emerged as strong voices for the students the SBG represented. The participation of former SBG president/alumna Tawny Holmes and graduate student Erin Moran was also critical. They encouraged the students to speak out about Dr. Jane K. Fernandes as the 9th president. During October, Commerson essentially filled the role as the democratic leader, with Holmes as the active alumnus leader and Moran as the coordinator of Tent City. Alumnus Sean Moore was also involved in organizing the impetus to move forward the protest activities. Plummer was key in negotiations with the DC police and the Fernandes transition administration.

On October 1, 2006, Tent City was in the process of being revived by students when they ran into problems. Campus workers had put down a highly concentrated liquid fertilizer called Earth Juice. The administration claimed that the fertilizing was planned. {{Citation needed|date=February 2007}} The next day, the Tent City was revived to protest the 9th president selection. Eventually the students seized the Hall Memorial Building (HMB),{{cite news | first=Derrick | last=Ward | title=Protesting Gallaudet Students Offer Deal To Administration | url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15202807/ | work=MSNBC | publisher=MSNBC | date=2006-10-10 | access-date = 2006-10-16}}{{dead link|date=August 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} and locked it down in order to prevent any classes from resuming and force the university administration to the negotiation table.

On October 6, 2006, officers from the Department of Public Safety raided the Hall Memorial Building to break up the lockdown. The students later alleged that the officers assaulted several students. I. King Jordan ordered an independent investigation.{{cite web | author=Coogan, Mercy | title=Eric Holder to Lead Investigation into Alleged Use of Excessive Force by Gallaudet Officers | date=2006-10-13 | work=Gallaudet University | url=http://news.gallaudet.edu/?ID=9557 | access-date = 2006-10-16 }}{{clarify|reason=results of the investigative report needed|date=January 2021}}

On October 12, 2006, police were called in to arrest the students.{{cite news | title=Student Standoff Continues At Gallaudet | url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15246714/ | work=MSNBC | publisher=MSNBC | date=2006-10-13 | access-date = 2006-10-16}}{{dead link|date=August 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

Marking a historical moment in Gallaudet history, 133 protesters were arrested for civil disobedience by the 6th Street gate on October 13, now known as "Black Friday." The arrests were due to insistent orders by I. King Jordan to the reluctant DC police, who tried to avoid as much involvement with the arrests because, in their words, "Those students aren't doing anything wrong." {{Citation needed|date=May 2013}} While thousands of alumni and Gallaudet supporters watched, both via the internet and in person, each protester was quietly picked up and carried by campus security officers across the line separating the campus from the public street of DC into a DC Police van. {{Citation needed|date=May 2013}} Protest leaders went first, followed by waves of students, alumni, and prominent community members. Tim Rarus, one of the 1988 Deaf President Now leaders, was one of the first people arrested. Just before being arrested, he shouted, "I helped put you in office, now you're arresting me!".{{cite news | first=Susan | last=Kinzie |author2=Otto, Mary | title=Gallaudet Reopens With Protesters Still At Front Gates: Jordan Is Criticized For Approving Arrests | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/14/AR2006101400375.html | newspaper=The Washington Post | pages= A01 | date=2006-10-15 | access-date = 2006-10-16}}

National Association of the Deaf's president Bobbie Beth Scoggins of Kentucky cut her vacation short and flew in to declare NAD's support of the students' demands.{{cite news | first=Daniel | last=de Vise | title=Deaf Advocate Blasts Arrests | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/15/AR2006101500631.html | newspaper=The Washington Post | pages= B01 | date=2006-10-16 | access-date = 2006-10-16}}

On October 19, 2006, the Washington Post reported that "[o]f the 20 trustees, three of whom are members of Congress, perhaps as many as seven do not support Fernandes becoming president".{{cite news | first=Susan | last=Kinzie | title=Gallaudet Trustees Split on Fernandes | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/18/AR2006101802035.html | newspaper=Washington Post | pages= A01 | date=2006-10-19 | access-date = 2006-10-29}} This article was the catalyst in shaking the Board of Trustees up and creating unease in their firm stand to not condone the protest for the first time.

On October 21, 2006, more than 4,000 people from around the nation attended a protest march to the Capitol, in Washington D.C.{{cite news | first=Kristy | last=Johnson | title=Gallaudet stir spreads | url=http://washingtontimes.com/metro/20061022-124642-4511r.htm | work=washingtontimes.com | publisher=The Washington Times | date=2006-10-22 | access-date = 2006-10-29}}{{cite news | first=Petula | last=Dvorak | title=From Gallaudet to Capitol, a March in Step With History | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/21/AR2006102100929.html | newspaper=Washington Post | pages= C01 | date=2006-10-22 | access-date = 2006-10-29}}

On October 29, 2006, the Board of Gallaudet withdrew its appointment of Fernandes, without naming an alternative.{{cite news | author= Susan Kinzie |author2=David A. Fahrenthold |author3=Nelson Hernandez |author4=Judy Sarasohn | title=Gallaudet Board Rescinds Fernandes' Appointment | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/29/AR2006102900533.html | newspaper=Washington Post | date=2006-10-29 | access-date = 2006-10-29}}

In an opinion piece in The Washington Post, Jordan defended the appointment of Fernandes. Jordan denounced the board's decision and the actions of the protesters, saying, "I am convinced that the board made a serious error in acceding to the demands of the protesters by terminating Fernandes's presidency before it began."[https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/10/AR2006121000242.html Gallaudet Chooses Interim President], Washington Post, December 11, 2006

On December 10, 2006, the Board of Trustees announced that Robert Davila would serve as interim president for up to two years. He was formally installed on May 9, 2007, during a ceremony that included a speech by D.C. Congressional Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton, who spoke positively of the 2006 protest.{{cite web|title=Speech by Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton at the Installation of Gallaudet President Robert R. Davila|url=http://saveourdeafschools.org/eleanor_holmes_norton_speech_at_davila_installation_2007.pdf|publisher=Save Our Deaf Schools|date=May 9, 2007|access-date=16 July 2012}} He stepped down on December 31, 2009.

On June 29, 2007, in the aftermath of the controversy over the university's presidency, Gallaudet was temporarily placed on probation by its accreditation organization, the Commission on Higher Education of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.[http://news.gallaudet.edu/?id=11298 Inside Gallaudet – Gallaudet University] It was also reported that in 2006, the Office of Management and Budget had found that "Gallaudet failed to meet its goals or showed declining performance in key areas, including the number of students who stay in school, graduate and either pursue graduate degrees or find jobs upon graduation."[https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/07/13/AR2007071301894.html On Probation], Washington Post, July 14, 2007. In January 2007, former president Jordan wrote an editorial on the topic that appeared in the Washington Post.{{cite news| url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/21/AR2007012101118.html?sub=AR | newspaper=The Washington Post | title=Deaf Culture and Gallaudet | date=January 22, 2007 | access-date=May 3, 2010 | first=I. King | last=Jordan}} The Middle States Commission later reaffirmed Gallaudet's accreditation on June 27, 2008.{{cite web |url=http://aaweb.gallaudet.edu/MSCHE.xml |title=MSCHE Accreditation – Gallaudet University |publisher=Aaweb.gallaudet.edu |date=June 26, 2008 |access-date=February 10, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100609124309/http://aaweb.gallaudet.edu/MSCHE.xml |archive-date=June 9, 2010 }}

On October 18, 2009, the Board of Trustees announced that Gallaudet's tenth president would be T. Alan Hurwitz. He began his tenure on January 1, 2010. He was succeeded by Roberta Cordano in January 2016.

{{Reflist}}

• {{cite thesis |title=Perforating tympanic walls: A second look at identity politics in relation to the 1988 and 2006 protests at Gallaudet University |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/305201718/ |last=Franklin |first=Paige Elizabeth |date=2006|degree=Ph.D.|publisher=George Washington University|language=en}}
• {{cite book |last1=Gertz |first1=Genie |last2=Boudreault |first2=Patrick |title=The SAGE Deaf Studies Encyclopedia |date=5 January 2016 |publisher=SAGE Publications |isbn=978-1-4833-4647-2 |language=en}}
• {{cite book |last1=Gibson |first1=Suanne |last2=Haynes |first2=Joanna |title=Perspectives on Participation and Inclusion: Engaging Education |date=23 May 2009 |publisher=A&C Black |isbn=978-0-8264-4501-8 |language=en}}
• {{cite book |last1=Mitchell |first1=David T. |last2=Snyder |first2=Sharon L. |title=A Cultural History of Disability in the Modern Age |date=17 May 2023 |publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing |isbn=978-1-350-02930-9 |language=en}}
• {{cite book |last1=Perry |first1=Lewis |title=Civil Disobedience: An American Tradition |date=22 October 2013 |publisher=Yale University Press |isbn=978-0-300-12459-0 |language=en}}

• [http://saveourdeafschools.org/ufg.pdf Unity for Gallaudet contemporaneous documents], May 2006.
• Holmes, Tawny. 2006. [http://saveourdeafschools.org/tawny_holmes_article_NADmag_April-Dec_2006_issue.pdf Unity for Gallaudet: A Review]. NADmag—a publication of the National Association of the Deaf, (April–December 2006), pp. 20–21, 24–25.
• [http://saveourdeafschools.org/DPN_student_leaders_2006_manifesto.pdf Manifesto] (October 16, 2006) by DPN student leaders.
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20061216225322/http://www.gufssa.org/ Gallaudet University's Faculty Staff Students Alumni Coalition]
• [http://www.signcasts.com Sign Cast]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20110717060427/http://www.timkettering.com/album/32 Photos from 'Black Friday']
• [http://samsonkg.googlepages.com/gallaudetprotest10.15.06 Kenneth G. Samson protest pictures]
• [http://www.deafweekly.com/special101406.htm Deafweekly]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20061023035635/http://www.deafeye.com/ Tent Cities across the World]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20070929025713/http://michellemcauliffe.com/gallery/main.php Michelle McAuliffe's Gallery of May protest]
• [http://www.4096.org/gallaudet/ Unity for Gallaudet Photos - Jeff Fredrickson]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20070929223843/http://www.dathart.com/gallaudet/ T and J Ferguson Photos]
• [http://www.eyethstudios.com/ Photos Documenting the Entire Protest]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20070105200421/http://www.bucknakedbison.com/ Underground Newsletter Addressing the Protest]
• [http://saveourdeafschools.org/eleanor_holmes_norton_speech_at_davila_installation_2007.pdf Speech by Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton in which she refers to the Unity for Gallaudet movement, 2007]

{{Gallaudet University}}

Category:Deaf culture in the United States

Category:Gallaudet University

Category:Student strikes in the United States

Category:Student protests in Washington, D.C.

Category:2006 protests

Category:October 2006 in the United States

Category:2006 in Washington, D.C.